Spinning reel



Nov. 8, 1966 M. E. WOOD 3,284,018

SPINNING REEL Original Filed Nov. 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 INVENTOR.

MORRIS E. WooD ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 M. E. WOOD 3,284,018

SPINNING REEL Original Filed Nov. 28. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.NMMS E. Wooo ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 y M. E. WOOD 3,284,018

' SPINNING REEL Original Filed Nov. 28, 1961 5 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR.MORRIS E. W000 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,284,018 SPINNING REELMorris E. Wood, Bronson, Mich., assignor to Bronson Specialties,Incorporated, Bronson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Originalapplication Nov. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 157,039, now Patent No. 3,123,318,dated Mar. 3, 1964. Divided and this application Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No.450,782

18 Claims. (Cl. 24284.2)

This application is a division of application Serial No. 157,039, newPatent No. 3,123,318, and a continuationin-part of Serial Nos. 853,377and 257,358, both of which are now abandoned.

The subject invention relates generally to fishing reels and moreparticularly is directed to improvements in a reel of the spinning type.

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide a reel ofthe above type with a unique arrangement whereby an improved drag orretarding force of any desired magnitude may be applied to a line pickupassembly through the agency of a control which extends through a lineguide opening provided in the end of a cover to facilitate manualoperation of the control,

A particular object of the invention is to provide a reel in which theline is controlled in a manner whereby line twist is substantiallyeliminated.

A particularly important object of the invention is to provide animproved system of line control which serves to prolong the life of aline. Otherwise expressed, the line control serves to preventappreciable damage or injury to a line.

Other objects of the invention reside in providing a reel which offersdistinct advantages with respect to design and construction, cost ofmanufacture and assembly on a production basis, efiiciency in operationand durability.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily becomeapparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered inconjunction with the drawings annexed hereto in which a preferred formof the structure embodying the invention is clearly exemplified.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal section of the reel taken substantially on line11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the reel;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken through a drive shaft showing themode of attaching a crank thereto;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the reel with portions insection to illustrate details of the structure;

FIGURE 6 is a partial vertical section showing certain details of theline pickup structure;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the ratchet mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing the mode ofattaching the cover, frame and line support of the reel together;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of sections of the dragstructure;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the relationship ofthe pickup lever to various surfaces of the bearing supporting thedriven shaft;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a part of a pickup assembly and acover therefor with a portion of the latter being removed to illustratecertain structural characteristics of the pickup assembly;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing a lineinterposed between a drum of the pickup assembly and a cover for controlthereby;

"ice

FIGURES 13 and 14 illustrate various forms of receiving means providedon a portion of a drum of the pickup assembly;

FIGURE. 15 is an enlarged partial section of a modified form of a linecontrol in which the receiving means are provided in a portion of acover as distinguished from being provided on a drum of a pickupassembly;

FIGURE 16 is a pictorial view of an annular element provided withreceiving means;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged partial section showing the element shown inFIGURE 16 as applied to a drum of a pickup assembly for controlling theHow of a line between this element and a cover; and

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the elementillustrated in FIGURE 16 as applied to a cover for use in controllingthe flow of a line between this element and a portion of a drum of apickup assembly.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 generallydesignates a frame or housing; 2 a line support or spool; 3 a linepickup assembly for directing a line onto the spool; 4 a driving meansfor rotating the pickup assembly; 5 an actuator for shifting the pickupassem bly forwardly of the spool; 6 a ratchet mechanism; 7 a coverprovided with a line guide or opening 8; and 9 a drag or brake assemblyoperative-1y associated with the pickup assembly and provided with ahandle extending through the opening to facilitate and controladjustment of the brake assembly as desired.

The frame 1, above referred to, is preferably made in the form of a cuphaving a base wall 10 and a side wall 11. The base wall is preferablypressed outwardly to form a relatively large horizontal bulge orooncavo-convex depression 12 provided with a vertical T-shaped opening13 through which the actuator 5 extends.

The base wall and the side wall are preferably constructed to include adepending hollow radial formation having a lower concave seat 14 inwhich is secured an elongate plate 15 for attaching the reel to a poleor rod in a conventional manner so that the frame will be supported in avertical position with its open side facing the end of the pole or rod.

The spool 2 is preferably detachably connected to the frame by screws16. More specifically in this regard, the free marginal edge of the sidewall 11 of the frame is provided with a pair of diametrically disposedseats or notches 17 which receive a pair of offsets 18 extendingradially from an annular radial flange 19 of a rear part 20 of thespool. The side wall of the frame is also provided with a pair ofnotches 21 corresponding to the notches 17 and the flange 19 of thespool is provided with diametrically disposed pairs of offsets 22, whichpairs are disposed in the notches 21. The flange 19 is also providedwith a pair of axial rearwardly extending lugs 23 which are respectivelydisposed between the pairs of offsets 22. The screws 16 extend throughholes provided therefor in the side wall of the frame and engagethreaded apertures provided in the lugs 23 for securing the spool in afixed balanced condition on the frame, with the rear part 20 of thespool substantially closing off the front open side of the frame. Thenotches and offsets are preferably arranged so that the spool can beafiixed to the frame in either of two positions in order to facilitatetheir assembly.

The rear part 20 of the spool includes the radial flange '19 abovealluded to and a forwardly extending central formation having a basewall 24 and 'a cylindrical wall 25 for supporting a line 26. The spoolcomprises the rear part 20 and a front part 27 in the form of a planarplate which is preferably secured in a firm abutting relationship withthe base wall 34 of the rear spool part by three rivets 28. It will benoted that the front part of the spool has a diameter which is somewhatless than the diameter of the rear part.

The line pickup assembly 3 and mode of mounting the same for movementwith and/ or with respect to the spool will now be described. Acylindrical tubular bearing is permanently secured in axially alignedholes provided in the spool parts. This bearing includes a reducedcylindrical portion 29 which extends rearw ardly through the aforesaidaligned holes and is upset against the rear face of the base wall 24 ofthe rear spool part 2% as indicated at 30. The bearing also includes anenlarged cylindrical portion 31 abutting the front spool part 27 and areduced forwardly extending cylindrical portion 32. The enlargedcylindrical portion is provided with a peripheral bearing surface 33 andthe reduced portion with a peripheral bearing surf-ace 34. The enlargedportion is also provided with diametrically disposed interruptions ornotches, each of which is defined by a chordal shaped radial surface 35and an axial surface 36. The axial surfaces 36 are tangent to theperipheral bearing surface 34 of the reduced portion 32 and due to thenotches the enlarged cylindrical portion 3-1 is divided into a pair ofportions having diametrically disposed arcuate planar surfaces 37 whichare arranged in advance of and in parallel relation to the chord'allyshaped radial surfaces 35. These various surfaces are adapted forcooperation with a flange 38 formed on a pickup lever 39 constituting acomponent of the pickup assembly in a manner which will be describedmore in detail subsequently.

A driven shaft 40 is rotatably and slidably mounted in the tubularbearing and carries a pinion gear 41 which meshes with a drive gear 42of the driving means 4 for rotating the driven shaft and pinion gear.The shaft is preferably designed and constructed to include acylindrical portion 43 which is journalled in the bearing, a squaredportion 44 having a cross dimension less than the portion 43, a shoulderor abutment 45 disposed between the portions 43 and 44, and an innerreduced cylindrical portion 46 provided with a rounded end 47 and anadjacent transverse annular groove 48. A spring clip or abutment 49 isdetachably seated in this groove for holding a helical spring 50 betweenthe clip and pinion gear to cause this gear to normally bear against theshoulder 45 and/or the inner end of the hearing. The pinion gear isprovided with a squared aperture for receiving the squared portion 44 ofthe shaft to slidably key the gear thereon. The helical spring normallysurrounds the inner reduced portion 46 and a portion of the squaredportion 44 of the shaft, with its fore end seated in a small circularrecess provided in the rear face of the pinion gear as shown in FIGURES1 and 3. With this organization the shaft and pickup assembly carriedthereby can be rotated through the agency of the gears and, whendesired, can be shifted forwardly by the actuator relative to the spooland pinion gear to carry the pickup assembly in a direction away fromthe spool.

The driven shaft is also formed with an outer reduced cylindricaltubular portion 51 provided with a pair of parallel longitudinallyextending slots 52. The adjacent cylindrical portion 43 of the shaft isprovided with an axially extending threaded aperture which receives athreaded portion 53 of a manual control 54. This control is preferablyconstructed in the form of a knurled handle or knob which extendsthrough the line guide opening 8 to facilitate adjustment of the dragmeans 9 to regulate the amount of force applied to the line pickupassembly for retarding its rotational movement with respect to the shaftand/or spool to control release of the line from the spool.

The pickup assembly comprises a drum or cup member 55, the pickup lever39, above referred to, and a spring 56 operatively connected to thelever. The drum includes a cylindrical axial wall 57 and a base wall 58having a central circular depression 59 provided with a round opening 60through which the outer reduced portion 51 of the driven shaft extendsto permit relative rotation therebetween. A pair of rigid planarfriction members 61 and 62 are mounted on and keyed to the driven shaftby means of diametrically opposed projections formed on these memberswhich project into the longitudinal slots 52 in the shaft as shown inFIGURE 9. More particularly, the friction member 61 has radialprojections 65 which extend into the slots 52 for keying this member tothe shaft and the friction member 62 has axially extending projections65' which extend into the slots for keying member 62 to the shaft. Themember 61 bears against a shoulder formed on the shaft and is preferablymade somewhat thicker than the member 62 so that it will withstand axialthrust and impart stability to the pickup assembly. The axialprojections on the member 62 insure retention of this member on theshaft so that it will not shift laterally in the event the control 54 isunscrewed to an extent that would otherwise normally release theseprojections from the slots.

A pair of corresponding resilient planar friction elements 63 and 64 areprovided with round holes through which the outer portion 51 of theshaft extends. The friction element 63 is interposed between the member61 and the depression 59 of the pickup drum. The friction member 62abuts a dished spring washer 66 backed against a shoulder 67 on thecontrol 54 and the friction element 64 is interposed between thedepression and the friction member 62. The depression serves to provide.a larger area or space between the front part of the spool and the basewall of the drum to better accommodate the fore part of the bearing, thefriction member 61 and the friction element 63, as well as imipartrigidity to the drum. With this unique organization, the control 54which holds the friction members, friction elements, spring washer andthe drum in a predetermined assembled relation on the driven shaft canbe readily manipulated to cause the friction element to engage and clampthe depression of the drum Itherebetween to lock the drum for rotationwith the shaft or allow the drum to rotate relative to the shaft. Inother words, the control can be screwed tightly onto the driven shaft tosubstantially prevent relative rotational movement ibetween the pickup(and driven shaft or loosened to obtain a variable drag actiontherebetween in order to offer resistance to the outward flow of linethrough the guide opening 8 from the spool. Attention is directed to thefact that the guide opening is relatively large and formed by spinning aflange over against the inner surface of the cover 7 to provide a convexsurface and that the control is of predetermined diameter and length foraxial disposition in the opening to facilitate manipulation of thecontrol and provide an annular space about the control to assist incontrolling the flow of line to and from the reel.

The ipickup lever 39 of the pickup assembly may be designed andconstructed in various ways but 433 exemplitied in the drawing includes'a leg portion 68 and a leg or finger portion 69 arrangedsulbsta-ntially at right angles in an offset relation to the leg portion68. The leg portion 68 is preferably provided with the flange 38, abovereferred to, which extends rearwardly at (right angles to the plane ofthe leg 68 as depicted in FIGURES 3 and 6. A stud extends through thebase wall 58 of the pickup drum and the outer end of the leg 68 forconnecting the lever to the drum for pivotal movement with respectthereto. The stud comprises a portion which is secured in a holeprovided therefor in the drum, a cylindrical portion 70, a cylindricalportion 71 and a head portion 72. The lever is providedwith an aperturewhich receives the cylindrical portion 70 of the stud and an annularloop portion 73 of the spring 56 detaohably grips the larger cylindricalportion 71 of the stud. The spring also includes a pair of legs 74 and75 which bear against the rear side of the lever. More specifically inthis regard, both of the legs of the spring primarily engage the legportion 68 of the lever with the free end of the leg portion 74 hearingagainst the inner surface of the side wall 57 of the pickup drum. Thefree end of the spring leg 75 overlies an edge of the lever and isprovided with an offset 76 which bears against the front side of thelever. The finger portion 69 of the lever is disposed for movementrelative to a clearance slot 77 provided therefor in the side wall ofthe drum :as depicted in FIGURE 6. The spring serves to stabilize therelative pivotal positions of the lever and allows the line to freelyretract the lever when the pickup assembly is projected forwardly by theactuator as the line flows from the spool. The base wall of the drum isprovided with an abutment 78 which may be engaged by the lever to limitits inward pivotal movement :and locate the leg 69 in a predeterminedposition entirely within the confines of the drum when the drum isshifted forwardly. The flange 38 on the lever is adapted to engage theperipheral surface 33 of the bearing when the drum is in a retractedline winding position to maintain the finger portion of the leverprojected for directing line onto the spool. The free end of the fingerportion 69 is preferably formed with an overlapping portion 79 toprovide an elongate convex surface 80 for engaging the line and reducingwear thereon.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that the spool, pickupassembly, drag means, and driven shaft are all operatively connectedtogether to constitute a subassembly which can be easily and quicklyattached to the frame and cover and that the pickup assembly and dragmeans also comprise subassemblies.

The actuator generally designated 5 for shifting the driven shaft andpickup assembly thereon axially forward is preferably in the form of alever and T-shaped in crosssection, :as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2 land 5,and includes a planar portion 81 which extends through the T-shapedopening 13 in the enlargement 12 of the frame. This planar portion isprovided with a rounded nose or cam portion 82 for engaging the roundedend 47 of the driven shaft as shown in FIGURES l and 3. The actuatoralso includes an arcuate ribbed head portion 83, the major portion ofwhich is exposed for manual engagement by the thumb of the operator.

The upper part of the actuator is provided with a pair of trunnions 84extending laterally therefrom. A bracket 85 has a planar portion 86secured against the inner sur face of the base wall .10 of the frameabove the depression 12 'by a rivet 87. In order to stabilize theposition of the bracket the wall is preferably distorted forwardly at 88into small apertures '89 provided therefor in the planar portion 86 oneither side of the rivet. The depression or bulge 12 is formed with anupper offset portion 90 which merges with the bulge and the planarportion of the bracket is provided with a pair of longitudinally spacedcurved tongues 91 which extends reaiwardly toward the offset portion 90and form in combination therewith a pair of curved means which journalor pivotally receive the trunnions 84. A portion of the actuator isdisposed between the tongues to center the actuator in the T-shapedopening 13 so that the actuator may freely swing or gravitate againstthe rounded end of the driven shaft without engaging the marginal edgesof the material defining the opening. Otherwise expressed, the actuatoris suspended for free pivotal movement and due to its shape and weightdistribution its curved nose or cam portion 82 will normally rest orbear against the driven shaft.

The cover generally designated 7 may be designed and constructed invarious ways but as illustrated preferably comprises an axiallyextending cylindrical wall 9-2 substantially surrounding the side wallof the frame, an annular radial wall 93 disposed axially opposite thepickup drum 55, a conical portion 94, and an end wall 95 in which theline guide opening 8 is provided. The cylindrical wall 92 telescopicallyembraces the cylindrical side registry with holes provided therefor inthe side wall 11 of the frame so that the screws 16 can be extendedthrough the notches, holes and connect with the threaded aperturesprovided in the lugs 23 of the spool part 20 for holding the cover andspool in assembled relationship. After 7 these components have once beenassembled the screws may be loosened without removal to permit the coverto be slid off the frame to obtain access to the pickup assernbly anddrag means to facilitate their repair, removal or replacement from thedriven shaft, if required.

The driving means generally designated 4 will now be described. Acylindrical tubular bearing 99 has a reduced outer end which extendsthrough an aperture in the side wall of the frame and is upset againstthe outer surface of this wall to permanently anchor the bearing inplace with the major portion of its length extending radially toward thelongitudinal axis of the frame.

A drive shaft 100 is journalled in the bearing and its outer end portionis squared and provided with an axial threaded aperture as show inFIGURE 5. A crank 101 is provided with a squared opening which receivesthe squared portion of the shaft and a screw 102 engages the threads ofthe aperture for detachably securing the crank for rotation with theshaft.

The drive gear 42 is fixed on the drive shaft for movement therewith andmeshes with the pinion gear 41 for rotating the pickup assembly. Aratchet wheel 103 is preferably fixed or formed on the outer side of thedrive gear or shaft and engages the inner end of the bearing forlimiting outward movement of the shaft and spacing the gear axially fromthe bearing as evidenced in FIG- URE 5.

The ratchet mechanism includes the ratchet wheel 103 above referred toand will now be described. The drive shaft bearing 99 is provided withan exterior longitudinally extending slot 104 and an elongate planarpawl member 105 is disposed in this slot for rockable or tiltablemovement in the plane of the drive shaft. The slot extends throughoutthe length of the bearing and a portion of the frame (not shown)projects into the slot to prevent rotation of the bearing relative tothe frame. The inner end of the pawl is provided with a detent portion106 for successively engaging preferably six teeth 107 on the ratchetwheel. The pawl is also provided with a notch 108 and a reduced outerend 109 forming a shoulder 110. The bearing is also provided with anexterior transverse groove 111 and a resilient means preferably in theform of a wire spring has a annular portion 112 which is disposed in theannular groove and bears against the reduced end 109 of the pawl and theshoulder 110. The spring also includes an offset loop portion 113disposed in a plane substantially tangent to its annular portion and thebearing and further includes a hook portion 114 which is disposed in thenotch 108 and embraces the pawl as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5. With thissetup the pawl is resiliently held in the slot so that its de-tentportion will be caused to readily engage the teeth on the ratchet memberto positively prevent the drive shaft and gear thereon from rotating ina reverse direction. It will be noted that the inner end of the bearingis preferably tapered adjacent the ratchet wheel in order to provide asuitable clearance space for movement of the detent portion of the pawl.

In view of the foregoing it will be manifest that when the pick-upassembly is in a normal operating position, with the friction member 61engaging the end of the reduced portio 32 of the bearing supporting thedriven shaft, as exemplified in FIGURES 1 and 6 of the drawing, the lineengaging portion 80 of the pickup lever will be extended to catch anddirect line onto the spool when the driving means is operated, due tothe fact that the inner flange 38 of the lever rides on the peripheralsurface 33 of the hearing. The pickup assembly may be readily shiftedforwardly to an inoperative position as depicted in FIGURE 3 bymanipulating the actuator 5. When the actuator is depressed the drivenshaft will slide forwardly relative to its bearing and the pinion gearand compress the helical spring 50. During this forward movement theflange 38 of the lever will first slide axially off the peripheralsurface 33 of the enlarged portion 31 of the bearing and then onto theperipheral surface 34 of the reduced portion 32 of the hearing. Theflange of the lever is of a predetermined size so that its rear edgewill engage either of the radial extending arcuate planar surfaces 37 onthe bearing to maintain the pickup assembly in the inoperative positionjust referred to, in which position the lever is retracted so that itsouter line engaging portion or sunf-ace 80 is disposed within the con,-fines of the pickup drum as shown in FIGURE 3.

When the pickup assembly is in the inoperative position the drumsubstantially uncovers the throat or side of the spool so that the linemay freely flow or travel therefrom over the cylindrical wall 57 of thedrum and out through the guide opening 8. Attention is directed to thefact that the line unwinds about the manual control 54 between themarginal edge of the material defining the opening and the periphery ofthe control so as to assist in controlling the flow to prevent linetwist and entanglement. The outward flow of line may be readilycontrolled by merely depressing the actuator to shift the driven shaftand pickup assembly forwardly so that the base wall 58 of the drum willforce the line against the annular radial wall 93 of the cover 7. Withthis setup the flow of the line from the spool may be stopped orretarded, as desired, depending on the force applied to the actuator inclamping the line between the walls of the cover and drum. In making acast the actuator is preferably f-ully depressed to cause the drum toclamp the line until such time that the line is released by allowing thepickup assembly to move backwardly or return through the action of thespring 50 to a position where the flange 38 on the lever will engageeither of the foremost surfaces 37 or either of the surfaces 35, afterwhich the actuator may again be depressed to cause the pickup assemblyto travel forwardly to stop or retard the outward flow of the line.Thus, the forward shifting of the pick-up assembly renders the latterinoperative insofar as being capable of directing line onto the spoolbut is effective for line clamping. It will also be manifest that thedrag means may be regulated to control relative rotation between thepickup assembly and the driven shaft when a fish is caught to exert anoutward pull on the line. In other words, the outward flow of the linecan be controlled by varying the pressure applied to the pickup drum toregulate rotation of the pick-up assembly with respect to the drivenshaft.

The pickup assembly may be readily and quickly automatically returned toits operative line winding position, as shown in FIGURE 1, by merelyturning the crank 101 to rotate the pickup assembly so that the rearedge of the flange 38 of the pickup lever will ride off the peripheralsurface 34 of the reduced portion 32 and either of the radial surfaces37 of the bearing onto either of the chordal shaped radial surfaces 35of the bearing and then gradually back onto the large peripheral surface33 to the operative position of FIGURE 1, through the action of thecontracted helical spring 50. In other words, the flange of the leverfalls back onto either of the radial surfaces 35 due to the fact thatthe axial surfaces 36 of the hearing are tangent to the peripheralsurface 34- of the reduced portion 32. One or the other of the axialsurfaces 36 serves to engage and cam the flange to gradually pivot thelever so the flange will ride back onto the peripheral surface 33. Thechordally shaped surfaces 35, as explained previously, are spacedaxially to the rear of the surfaces 37 so that the pickup assembly isactually forced back one step when the flange of the lever engages thechordal surfaces before it is returned to the fully retracted position.

Referring now to the improved line control structures illustrated inFIGURES 11 through 19 and particularly to FIGURES 11 through 14, thereis shown in FIGURES l1 and 12 an assembly comprising a stationary covermember generally designated 200 and a drum member generally designated201 constituting a component of a pickup unit.

The stationary cover member includes a cylindrical wall 202, a frontwall having an annular portion 203, and a forwardly extending conicalportion 204 provided with a line guide opening 205. It will be observedthat the portions 203 and 204 of the front wall of the cover arepreferably joined together by an intermediate portion 206 as clearlyshown in FIGURE 12.

The drum member 201 of the pickup unit or assem bly includes acylindrical rearwardly extending wall 207 which is disposed inconcentric spaced relation to the cylindrical wall 202 of the cover anda front annular wall 208 which is disposed in opposed relation to thefront wall of the cover. The drum 201 is carried by a driven shaft andis operatively connected thereto by a manually operable element 209' ina manner substantially corresponding to the structure above referred to,with the element 209' extending through the line guide opening 205. Thedriven shaft and the drum member 201 are adapted for reciprocation as aunit through the agency of the manual operating means above described.

The improvement involves providing means controlling the line at alocation between the cover and pickup members. More specifically in thisrespect, the front wall 208 of the line pickup drum member is providedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced chordally disposedreceiving means 209. The receiving means may be designed and constructedin various ways but, as exemplified in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13, each ispreferably made in the form of a groove or channel which is preferablyarcuate or curved in cross section, as indicated at 210. If desired, thegrooves or channels may be constructed so that they are generallyV-shaped in cross section as depicted at 211 in FIGURE 14. The groovesare preferably provided in the front wall 208 adjacent its periphery orin that portion of the wall which is adapted to be brought intoengagement with the annular portion 203 and/or portion 206 of the frontwall of the cover member 200, as clearly shown in FIGURE 12.

The receiving means or grooves 209 are positioned to generallycorrespond or match the helical path of a line 212 as it unwinds overthe surface of the drum. It is to be observed that the depth of thegrooves is somewhat greater than the diameter of the line. When the drumis moved into contact with the front wall of the cover an embracementpassage is formed through which the line is free to pass along its axis,parallel with the axis of the grooves. The line moves around the outsidediameter of the drum and inwardly across its face as it is removed fromthe spool. The passages or material defining the same prevent thismovement of the line by entrapment or confinement. In this respect,attention is dirooted to the fact that the side walls or surfacesdefining the passages are generally perpendicular to the path of theline and thereby serve to hold the line against outward movement fromthe reel. When the drum is moved rearwardly away from the cover, thepassages or grooves are opened and the line is again free to spiralacross the face of the drum and out of the reel.

It is the general practice with closed face spinning reels to clamp,grip or otherwise hold the line between the interior opposed surfaces ofthe reel structure in order to make a cast. These surfaces are usuallyparts of the pickup drum and reel cover and provide metal to metal,metal to plastic or plastic to plastic contact to hold the line.Continued clamping of the line in such reels causes the line to beflattened, scuffed or otherwise injured. This damage is generallyconfined to a relatively short length of line and quickly weakens theline in this area. The path of the line as it is removed from the spooland reel is a helix sliding around the outside diameter of the drum andacross its front face. To make a cast, the drum is moved forwardly alongthe longitudinal axis of the reel into contact with the front wall ofthe cover. The line is held against movement between contact pressure bythe conventional thumb-operated lever or button located in the rear ofthe reel. The line in such conventional constructions is held againstmovement in any direction by this pinching or clamping action. Thesubject invention overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.

Referring to FIGURE 15, there is shown a modified assembly embodying theinvention. More particularly, there is shown a stationary cover membergenerally designated 300 and a pickup drum member generally designated301. The cover is provided with a cylindrical wall 302, a frontalconical portion 303 and an annular intermediate portion 304. The portion304 may be termed a re-entrant portion or an abutment means and itsinner surface is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spacedchordally shaped receiving means 305 which are preferably in the form ofgrooves.

The drum member 301 includes a cylindrical wall 306 disposed concentricto the cylindrical wall 302 of the cover member and front annular wall307 disposed in opposed relation to the front wall of the cover. It willbe observed that the structure illustrated in FIGURE is different fromthat illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12 by providing the receiving meanson the cover in lieu of on the drum.

Referring to FIGURES 16 and 17, there is shown a stationary cover membergenerally designated 400, a drum member generally designated 401, and anannular element 402. The cover includes an annular frontal wall portion403 and the drum with a frontal wall 404 having a circumferentialperipheral groove 405 therein. The annular element or ring 402 ispreferably constructed from plastic and secured in the groove 405. Itsfrontal surface is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spacedchordally disposed receiving means or grooves 406 for selectivelyreceiving a line for achieving substantially the same objectives asdescribed above in connection with FIGURES 11 through 15. The element406 may be secured in the groove in any desired manner but asillustrated it is preferably provided with a plurality of threerearwardly extending pins or projections 407 which are preferablyextended through holes provided therefor in the base of the materialdefining a portion of the groove for upsetting as shown.

Referring to FIGURE 18, there is shown a stationary cover membergenerally designated 500 and a pickup drum member 501. The coverincludes an annular frontal portion 502 and the drum 501 with an annularfront wall 503. An annular element or ring 504, substantiallycorresponding to the element illustrated in FIGURE 16, is secured to thefront wall 502 of the cover in such a position that when the drum ismoved forwardly into engagement with the element, the line will be heldin one of a plurality of circumferentialy spaced receiving means orgrooves 505 provided in the element.

In view of the foregoing, it will be manifest that the above describedline control structures serve to prolong the life of a line, as well asprevent distortion thereof.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention, and, therefore, I do not Wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the 10 exact form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A spinning reel comprising a frame, a fixed bearing, a spool securedto the frame, a driven shaft carried by and reciprocally and rotatablymounted in said bearing, a line pickup assembly carried by the fore endof the shaft for directing the line onto the spool, means for rotatingthe shaft and pickup assembly, a cover secured to the frame and havingan end wall disposed in front of the pickup assembly, said end wallbeing provided with an opening through which the line may flow to andfrom the spool, an actuator carried by the frame for rockable movementabout an axis disposed transverse to said driven shaft for reciprocatingthe shaft and pickup assembly forwardly so that the pickup assembly maybe caused to force the line against the cover for braking the outwardflow of the line, friction-producing means carried by the shaft andengaging the pickup assembly, and control means mounted on the fore endof the shaft coaxially with said opening for digital operation in amanner whereby the friction-producing means may be readily adjusted tocontrol relative rotational movement between the shaft and pickupassembly.

2. The reel defined in claim 1 in which at least a portion of saidcontrol means on said shaft extends through said opening whereby tofacilitate its manipulation.

3. A spinning reel comprising a frame, a spool disposed in the frame andcarrying a fixed bearing, a driven shaft carried by and reciprocally androtatably mounted in said bearing, a line pickup assembly carried by thefore end of the shaft for directing the line onto .the spool, means forrotating the shaft and pickup assembly, a cover mounted on said frameand having an end wall disposed in front of the pickup assembly andprovided with an opening through which the line may flow to and from thespool, means for securing said cover, frame and spool in assembledrelation, friction-producing means carried by the shaft and engaging thepickup assembly, control means mounted on the fore end of the shaft fordigital operation in a manner whereby the friction-producing means maybe readily adjusted to control relative rotational movement between theshaft the pickup assembly, and an actuator carried by the frame forreciprocating the driven shaft and pickup assembly thereon forwardly forclamping the line between this assembly and the cover.

4. A spinning reel comprising a frame, a spool secured to said frame andcarrying a fixed bearing, a driven shaft reciprocally and rotativelymounted in said bearing, a line pickup assembly including a drum membercarried by a fore end of said shaft for directing the line onto saidspool, means for rotating said shaft and pickup assembly as a unit, acover member secured to said frame and having an end wall disposed infront of said pickup assembly, said end wall being provided with anopening through which a line connected to said spool may flow, saidmem'- bers being constructed and arranged whereby to provide a pluralityof circumferentially spaced substantially chordally disposed receivingmeans, an actuator carried by said frame for moving said unit forwardlyso that said drum member may be caused to engage said end wall of saidcover member and confinethe line in at least one of said receiving meansfor retarding its travel through said opening without pinching said linebetween said members, friction producing means carried by said drivenshaft and engaging said pickup assembly, and control means mounted onthe fore end of said shaft coaxially with said opening for digitaloperation in a manner whereby said friction producing means may bereadily adjusted to control relative rotational movement between saidshaft and aid pickup assembly.

5. A spinning reel comprising a frame, spool disposed in said frame, afixed bearing, a driven shaft reciprocally and rotatably mounted in saidbearing, a line pickup assembly including a drum member carried by thefore end of said shaft for directing the line onto said spool, means forrotating the shaft and pickup assembly as a unit, a stationary memberdisposed in front of said drum member of said pickup assembly andprovided with an opening through which a line may flow to and from thespool when connected to the latter, friction producing means carried bysaid driven shaft and engaging said pickup assembly, control meansmounted on the fore end of the shaft for digital operation in a mannerwhereby said friction producing means may be readily adjusted to controlrelative rotational movement between said shaft and pickup assembly, oneof said members being provided with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced substantially chordally disposed grooves, and an actuator carriedby said frame for reciprocating said unit forwardly for causing saiddrum member to engage said stationary member while allowing the line tobe received in one of said receiving means without pinching said linebetween said members.

6. The spinning reel defined in claim 1, in which said spool carriessaid fixed bearing.

7. The spinning reel defined in claim 1, in which said line pickupassembly and said cover are provided with means which cooperate with oneanother to define a plurality of chordally disposed straight passageswhen the cover and assembly are brought into engagement with one anotherso that a line may be freely received in any one of said passages.

8. The spinning reel defined in claim 1, in which saidfriction-producing means is jointly carried by said shaft and saidpickup assembly.

9. The spinning reel defined in claim 4, in which said chordallydisposed receiving means are provided on said drum member.

10. The spinning reel defined in claim 4, in which said chordallydisposed receiving means are provided on said cover member.

11. The reel defined in claim 5, in which said drum member comprises afront wall to which the fore end of the shaft is connected and acylindrical wall, and said grooves are formed in said front wall at alocation adjacent said cylindrical wall.

12. The reel defined in claim 5, in which said grooves are formed insaid stationary member in concentric relation to the opening therein.

13. The reel defined in claim 5, in which a separate annular element isafiixed to said drum member and the grooves are disposed in saidelement.

14. The reel defined in claim 5, in which a separate annular element isaflixed to said stationary member in concentric relation to the openingtherein and the grooves are disposed in said element.

15. A spinning reel comprising a frame, a spool secured to said frame, afixed bearing, a driven shaft carried by and reciprocably and rotatablymounted in said bearing, a line pickup comprising a frontal member provided with means for directing a line onto said spool, said frontalmember having a front wall which is connected to the fore end of saidshaft and also having a cylindrical side wall, means for rotating saidshaft and pickup, a stationary member secured to said frame in front ofsaid pickup and provided with an opening for receiving a line adaptedfor connection with said spool, an actuator carried by said frame formoving said pickup forwardly so that said frontal member may be caused.to engage said stationary member, means carried by said front Wall at alocation adjacent its side wall, said last-mentioned means comprising aplurality of longitudinally extending straight ribs defining an annularpattern of chordally disposed grooves, the arrangement being such that aline may be received in any one of said grooves to maintain the line ina substantially straight condition therein Without clamping it when themembers are brought into engagement.

16. The reel defined in claim 15, in which said means carried by saidfront wall is in the form of a separate annular element having thegrooves therein.

17. A spinning reel comprising a frame, a spool secured to said frame, afixed bearing, a driven shaft carried by and reciprocably and rotatablymounted in said bearing, a line pickup comprising a frontal membercarried by the fore end of said shaft and provided with means fordirecting a line onto said spool, means for rotating said shaft andpickup, a stationary member secured to said frame in front of saidpickup and provided with an opening for receiving a line adapted forconnection with said spool, means carried by said stationary member,said last-mentioned means comprising an integral inwardly extendingannular convex portion, an actuator carried by said frame for movingsaid pickup forwardly so that said frontal member may be caused toengage said convex portion of said stationary member, and said convexportion being provided with longitudinally extending straight ribdefining an annular pattern of chordally disposed grooves, thearrangement being such that a line may be received in any one of saidgrooves to maintain the line in a substantially straight conditiontherein without clamping it when said members are brought intoengagement.

18. The reel defined in claim 17, in which said means carried by saidstationary member i in the form of a separate annular element having thegrooves therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,613,468 10/1952Hand 24284.21 2,675,192 4/1954 Hull 24284.2 2,711,292 6/ 1955 Taggart etal 24284.2l 3,114,514 12/1963 Clark 24284.21 3,128,059 4/ 1964 Holahan24284.2 3,152,771 10/1964 Maury et al 24284.2 3,160,363 12/1964 Holahan24284.2 3,185,405 5/1965 Hull 24284.2

. FOREIGN PATENTS 820,874 9/ 1959 Great Britain.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. MERVIN STEIN, Examiner. B. S. TAYLOR,Assistant Examiner.

3. A SPINNING REEL COMPRISING A FRAME, A SPOOL DISPOSED IN THE FRAME ANDCARRYING A FIXED BEARING, A DRIVEN SHAFT CARRIED BY AND RECIPROCALLY ANDROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING, A LINE PICKUP ASSEMBLY CARRIED BY THEFORE END OF THE SHAFT FOR DIRECTING THE LINE ONTO THE SPOOL, MEANS FORROTATING THE SHAFT AND PICKUP ASSEMBLY, A COVER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAMEAND HAVING AND END WALL DISPOSED IN FRONT OF THE PICKUP ASSEMBLY ANDPROVIDED WITH AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE LINE MAY FLOW TO AND FORM THESPOOL, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID COVER, FRAME AND SPOOL IN ASSEMBLEDRELATION, FRICTION-PRODUCING MEANS CARRIED BY THE SHAFT AND ENGAGING THEPICKUP ASSEMBLY, CONTROL MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FORE END OF THE SHAFT FORDIGITAL OPERATION IN A MANNER WHEREBY THE FRICTION-PRODUCING MEANS MAYBE READILY ADJUSTED TO CONTROL RELATIVE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THESHAFT THE PICKUP ASSEMBLY, AND AN ACTUATOR CARRIED BY THE FRAME FORRECIPROCATING THE DRIVEN SHAFT AND PICKUP ASSEMBLY THEREON FORWARDLY FORCLAMPING THE LINE BETWEEN THIS ASSEMBLY AND THE COVER.